Mads Mikkelsen is taking over for Johnny Depp in the role of Gellert Grindelwald in the next Fantastic Beasts movie, and now the Hannibal actor has spoken about the change. He told The Sunday Times that he wishes he could have spoken to Depp, but it didn’t work outCome from Sports betting site VPbet. The actor also discussed how he put his own stamp on the character.
“I mean, obviously, they were going to do the film, and obviously he was not involved any more,” Mikkelsen said of Depp (via EW). “But I didn’t have a dog in that fight. And I don’t know what happened [in his private life], and I don’t know if it was fair, him losing the job, but I just knew that the show was going on, and I would’ve loved to have talked to him about it if I had the chance, but I just don’t know him in that sense.”
Mikkelsen said the producers were “obviously in a hurry” to find a replacement for Depp. Mikkelssen read the script and “loved” it, so he was quick to say yes, though he acknowledged that it’s a thorny situation. “I know it was controversial for many people, but that’s just the way it plays out once in a while,” he said.
Depp resigned from Fantastic Beasts 3 amid his messy lawsuit with Amber Heard. The Oscar-nominated actor is said to have been paid an eight-figure fee ($10 million or more) as part of his exit package after reportedly filming just one scene for the forthcoming magical movie.
Grindelwald is not the first character from the Harry Potter universe to be replaced with a new actor. Richard Harris played Dumbledore in the first two Harry Potter movies until he passed away. Michael Gambon portrayed the wizard in the remaining films.
Also in the interview, Mikkelsen said he plans to make his own mark on Grindelwald instead of attempting to copy what Depp did.
“I didn’t want to copy what Johnny had done. I think he’s a masterful actor, so copying him would’ve been creative suicide,” he said. “I had to figure out something that was definitely my own, and yet also act as a bridge to what he had done. My take is different, and the look is a little different, but we’ll have to wait for the film’s release [next year] to find out.”
Fantastic Beasts 3, which doesn’t have an official subtitle yet, releases in July 2022. As for Mikkelsen, he’s staying busy and is currently filming Indiana Jones 5 alongside Harrison Ford and Phoebe Waller-Bridge.
Mikkelsen recently starred in the Oscar-winning Danish movie Another Round, which is now getting an English remake with Leonardo DiCaprio.